ScannerHead44
Member
I live in an apartment which won't allow me to install an outside antenna for my new scanner. What antenna would be best for inside other than my stock antenna?
BC996P2 Question
- Thread starter ScannerHead44
- Start date
- Status
Your question cannot be answered without any info......
VHF, 700Mhz, 800Mhz, what are you wanting to monitor?
VHF, 700Mhz, 800Mhz, what are you wanting to monitor?
If you can’t sneak a feedline out the window or door to the outside you are pretty much out of luck. Some buildings are insulated using metal foil backing. While that may help to reduce unwanted RF, it also tends to degrade your reception. I’m not saying you have this type of insulation, it is a possibility. You could try an outside discone or gain antenna-just put it up out of the way, move it around to find the best spot and give that a try. (While tuned to a weak station like one of the weather frequencies that’s continuously broadcasting, find the best spot for the antenna. Aftermarket handheld antennas that claim they are gain antennas might help but I think any improvements are minimal at best. I don’t put much stock in their claims of gain. There’s more than one way to measure gain and manufacturers tend to exaggerate.
ScannerHead44
Member
Sorry, I'm scanning Wake County Simulcast 800mhz system, NC Viper P25 800mhz, and Town of Cary's p25 800mhz system.
If your getting 5 bars of signal you dont need an antenna besides the rod antenna. I suspect you are getting a good signal, thats one thing with multiple towers you should be getting good signal.
Simulcast, if you have a better antenna, rule of thumb means it will make any simulcast issues worse. Only thing if you still want one that would help your simulcast reception is a yagi directional antenna pointed towards your nearest tower.
Simulcast, if you have a better antenna, rule of thumb means it will make any simulcast issues worse. Only thing if you still want one that would help your simulcast reception is a yagi directional antenna pointed towards your nearest tower.
ScannerHead44
Member
I live a few hundred yards from one of Cary's 3 sites, so I receive them fine. As for Wake County, some of the transmissions drop in mid-sentence or I get the birdie sound from the data talkgroup 28752, which I haven't figured how to lock out. I guess I'll do some further tweaking with the P25 Threshold. Thanks for your info!
doctordialtone
Member
Maybe you have this set up as a Priority, which is the reason for the interruption.
Look at the display closely - do you see "Priority" flash on and off?
And/or do you have a WX in lower right, push WX button to remove. Also you may have close call on? Push the SQ button one above the volume knob and push it in till you see CC Off.
Far as 28752 you may have it in ID Search, you need ID Scan. If you properly programmed in talkgoups for your city and county it will only stop on those and not any outside of that. Press in the silver knob and immediately push the Scan button to toggle ID Search and ID Scan.
If also any besides that talkgroup comes up, while talking, push the L/O button for temporary where it comes back when you restart the radio or push L/O in succession to completely lock it out.
Since your so close to the tower, you dont need a different antenna for your Wake county, you must be getting 5 bars of signal which is the maximum.
Far as 28752 you may have it in ID Search, you need ID Scan. If you properly programmed in talkgoups for your city and county it will only stop on those and not any outside of that. Press in the silver knob and immediately push the Scan button to toggle ID Search and ID Scan.
If also any besides that talkgroup comes up, while talking, push the L/O button for temporary where it comes back when you restart the radio or push L/O in succession to completely lock it out.
Since your so close to the tower, you dont need a different antenna for your Wake county, you must be getting 5 bars of signal which is the maximum.
Last edited:
ScubaJungle
Active Member
I've had ridiculously good luck with this antenna:
www.ebay.com
I am also in an apartment, and I can't really put anything outside. I have these on a tripod in my living room, they are pretty small (the large one is a bit wide when fully extended, but most frequencies do not need full extension).
It takes a bit of tweaking and playing around, but I love it because once I get the length, orientation, direction right, it works better than almost any other antenna I have, besides the Yagi. They are also super cheap. By now, I pretty much know the length and orientation for each system I listen to by memory.
Use a dipole calculator like this: West Mountain Radio - Antenna Calculator
to get an idea of the length to start at. Lock onto a frequency you want to listen to, and start the antenna at the length from the calculator, then make adjustments until you get the best signal. The optimal length is not always exactly what the calculator says, but its a good starting point.
Id recommend giving this a shot before spending more money on a different antenna, as this has really shocked me with how well it does. People dont understand how to tune it/adjust length for frequency, so they dont get as good results, but when you do, it is awesome.
RTL-SDR Blog Multipurpose Dipole Antenna Kit (DE-SPJS-1110-1874) for sale online | eBay
Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for RTL-SDR Blog Multipurpose Dipole Antenna Kit (DE-SPJS-1110-1874) at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!
I am also in an apartment, and I can't really put anything outside. I have these on a tripod in my living room, they are pretty small (the large one is a bit wide when fully extended, but most frequencies do not need full extension).
It takes a bit of tweaking and playing around, but I love it because once I get the length, orientation, direction right, it works better than almost any other antenna I have, besides the Yagi. They are also super cheap. By now, I pretty much know the length and orientation for each system I listen to by memory.
Use a dipole calculator like this: West Mountain Radio - Antenna Calculator
to get an idea of the length to start at. Lock onto a frequency you want to listen to, and start the antenna at the length from the calculator, then make adjustments until you get the best signal. The optimal length is not always exactly what the calculator says, but its a good starting point.
Id recommend giving this a shot before spending more money on a different antenna, as this has really shocked me with how well it does. People dont understand how to tune it/adjust length for frequency, so they dont get as good results, but when you do, it is awesome.
- Status
